Valorisation
Collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach lead to an improvement of education, research and healthcare. Knowledge institutions can achieve a breakthrough with their research. The interaction with the nearby (R&D) companies stimulates innovation and valorisation and promotes the translation of knowledge into concrete products and services.
Utrecht Science Park: a fertile breeding ground for valorisation
Valorisation is an essential part of the mission of Utrecht Science Park. It refers to the process in which scientific knowledge and innovations are converted into social and economic value. This can be done, for example, through collaborations between knowledge institutions and companies, the establishment of start-ups, to market technologies or contributing to social challenges such as health and sustainability.
At Utrecht Science Park, knowledge institutions, research institutes, healthcare centers and companies work closely together on solutions for major societal challenges. Think of health, life sciences and sustainability. The presence of leading institutions such as Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht, the Hubrecht Institute and various biomedical (R&D) companies creates a fertile breeding ground for valorisation.
From knowledge to application
In concrete terms, valorisation at the Utrecht Science Park takes shape through for example:
- Support for start-ups and spin-offs: Organisations such as UtrechtInc help researchers and entrepreneurs set up innovative companies.
- Support for marketing a product from scientific research: Utrecht Holdings is the Knowledge Transfer Office of Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht. Utrecht Holdings was founded in 1998 and brings innovations to the market that are the result of scientific research by employees of Utrecht University or UMC Utrecht.
- Collaboration between science and business: Companies can make use of the knowledge and facilities of knowledge institutions, which leads to joint R&D projects.
- Knowledge sharing and networking: Events and meetings are regularly organised that stimulate innovation and collaboration, such as the Utrecht Science Park Café, various lectures and workshops.
- Campus development: The physical and digital infrastructure of Utrecht Science Park is designed to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing.
By focusing on valorisation, Utrecht Science Park contributes to a strong knowledge economy and to social progress, with a focus on healthy people in a healthy living environment.
ERC Consolidator Grants for seven Utrecht-based researchers
This year, seven Utrecht researchers will receive an ERC Consolidator Grant of approximately 2 million euros each. The European Union provides these grants support excellent scientists and scholars at the career stage where they may still be consolidating their own independent research teams to pursue their most promising scientific ideas. The Utrecht researchers who will receive a grant for their research are: Jesper Nederlof, Peter Ngene and Saskia Suijkerbuik (faculty of Science), Ylona van Dinther and Simon Scheider (faculty of Geosciences), Aniek Janssen (UMC Utrecht) and Jarno Drost (Prinses Maxima Centrum).
ERC Proof of Concept grant for three groups UMC Utrecht
The teams of three principal investigators at UMC Utrecht have received a prestigious ERC Proof of Concept grant. They are the groups of Hester den Ruijter, Ynte Ruigrok and Joost Sluijter. The funding will enable them to bring their scientific discoveries one step closer to application in practice.
AMT Medical raises €25 million for bypass procedure without open-Heart surgery
AMT Medical, a medtech company based in Ede and Utrecht, has announced the closing of a €25 million funding round. The round was led by Bender Analytical Holding, with participation from Invest-NL, the European Innovation Council (EIC), and existing investors. This milestone accelerates AMT’s mission to make open-heart bypass surgery obsolete through its groundbreaking ELANA® Heart Bypass System.
Utrecht Science Park Café: entrepreneurship at the Utrecht Science Park
On Monday 31 March, the Utrecht Science Park Café was all about entrepreneurship at the Utrecht Science Park, in the beautiful Life Sciences Incubator (LSI) building.